when characters stand there scratching their heads

Maiden · May 6, 2009

I am having a problem right now and thought I would put it out to the universe and see what comes back. First let me explain my problem. I am past the major plot climax in the story. My MC and supporting cast are now home but when I try to write what happens next I draw a blank. I have tried just having them do something and go with the flow but I go numb before I can even get to the period. I even tried outlining but I am having the same problem there.

So I gave up at this point and decided I would go and do some editing and add more character development, etc. leaving the wrap up for later.

Any advice, suggestions, or personal accounts would be great.

Willowmound · May 6, 2009

If you're past the climax and the characters are all back home, maybe your story is finished?

Maiden · May 6, 2009

I don't believe so. It certainly doesn't feel done. I think if I dropped it right where it is a reader would be the ones standing there scratching their heads.

ChristineR · May 6, 2009

Write down everything that still needs to be done or said before the story is finished, then write an outline backwards from those points to the current point.

Maiden · May 6, 2009

I guess part of my problem might be that the next book that follows this one is already in my head so I am unsure what point would make the most sense to leave this one off at. That way the reader feels whole but wanting more. I do not want to leave them lost and not trust me to take them further in the journey.

Ctairo · May 6, 2009

Maiden said:
I guess part of my problem might be that the next book that follows this one is already in my head so I am unsure what point would make the most sense to leave this one off at. That way the reader feels whole but wanting more. I do not want to leave them lost and not trust me to take them further in the journey.

Where does the next book start? What would readers expect after the characters arrive home?

You may need to focus on this project and back-burner the continuation.

ChaosTitan · May 6, 2009

Stop thinking about the next book. Focus on this book only. If you're past the climax, the book is almost over. You need to wrap it up.

Go back over what you've written. The climax should have resolved your major plot line. Look at your subplots. Are most them resolved? It's okay to leave a few dangling for future books, but not so many as to anger your readers. If you have too many dangling threads, fix a few of them.

Senora Verde · May 6, 2009

Whenever I'm stuck it's because I'm unhappy (whether or not I realize it right away) with the last part I wrote.

Try getting rid of your last 2,000 words (save them of course) and rewriting from there, se what happens.

Maybe it ends before the characters get home???

Maiden · May 6, 2009

I haven't start writting the next book yet and certainly wouldn't while this one is giving me troubles. But even on the back burner I can still smell it cooking. Mainly itis the characters that want to be introduced or ones that I already have that beg for more attention. So it is hard to focus sometimes.

Currently I am going back over what I have down. It was all I could think of that was at least doing something that needed to be done anyway.

Maybe that is why I seem to be lost. I don't think there was enough in the resolution of the plot. But the longer I made it the more sick, twisted, and gorey it was getting. With very little of any through the entire book I didn't want to shock my readers in a negative way.

For it to end before they get home would have it end abruptly after the climax. Would be like writing a battle scene then suddenly everyone just poofs.

Sirion · May 6, 2009

Resolve some sub-plots? Create some sub-plots?

Dark Window · May 6, 2009

Maiden said:
I haven't start writting the next book yet and certainly wouldn't while this one is giving me troubles. But even on the back burner I can still smell it cooking. Mainly itis the characters that want to be introduced or ones that I already have that beg for more attention. So it is hard to focus sometimes.

Currently I am going back over what I have down. It was all I could think of that was at least doing something that needed to be done anyway.

Maybe that is why I seem to be lost. I don't think there was enough in the resolution of the plot. But the longer I made it the more sick, twisted, and gorey it was getting. With very little of any through the entire book I didn't want to shock my readers in a negative way.

For it to end before they get home would have it end abruptly after the climax. Would be like writing a battle scene then suddenly everyone just poofs.

I had a similar problem, and eventually resplved it just by taking the first half (or about third) of the scene I had written, and changing the setting. If it's in a living room, try having it outside; and vice versa. I also had someone who was there at the beginning of the scene coming it half way through. I think in the end I deleted most of the beginnig of the scene anyway, but it got me out of my block.

Or you could try Philip Marlowe's method and have a beautiful woman at the door holding a gun...

ChristineR · May 6, 2009

I'd write everything down that I still had in my head, and try to order them chronologically. Then I'd divide them into things that happen in the next book, things that happen in this book, and things that could happen in either book or both. I'd pay special attention to unresolved points, anything that could make the reader unhappy. Unless you want a cliffhanger, try to make everyone happy and resolved, and the things that don't get resolved should be handled by letting everyone know what their current status is and having the characters acknowledge that this point is going to be left unresolved.

Maiden · May 6, 2009

I am starting to get a clearer plan of attack here so I appreciate everyones input. Here is my battle plan so far:

1. Continue going back over what I already have. I needed to change some things and add stuff anyhow. Tossing in some more sub-plots would be good.
2. Add more to the climax/resolution. I am debating on changing the setting also. It would give me more to work with (right now it is set in run down shack in the woods)
3. Hope like hell that after doing #1 and #2 I will be able to flow into a proper ending.

Keep the replies coming though. It is certainly helping me get my gears greased so I can get the motor going again.

Manix · May 6, 2009

ChaosTitan said:
Stop thinking about the next book. Focus on this book only. If you're past the climax, the book is almost over. You need to wrap it up.

Go back over what you've written. The climax should have resolved your major plot line. Look at your subplots. Are most them resolved? It's okay to leave a few dangling for future books, but not so many as to anger your readers. If you have too many dangling threads, fix a few of them.

Listen to this lady. She knows what she's talking about

Wrap up all the loose ends. If there are none, then you could be done, but just need to find some tie-in scene for the next book.

Bring the book full-circle back to the beginning--the place you started from. That's a literary device--I forget the name(someone help me out here)--but you go back to start, to bring closure to the book.

Maiden · May 6, 2009

I think that might be another problem I am having. I know there isn't anything else that is suppose to happen. I am just not sure how the best way to wrap it up would be.

Wow... As I was typing it came to me. I know exactly how it ends... Just how I began. Talk about getting kicked in the creative teeth there. Nothing like being in the mid thought when things finally make sense. Not only will it wrap it up in a nice neat bow but it will foreshadow what will come.

Can't tell you all how much I appreciate the help!

dawinsor · May 6, 2009

I think there are often two finishes to a book, and you might be having trouble with the second one. The first finish completes the action plot. The criminal is caught or the king is restored to the throne or whatever. That's mostly for the readers. The second finish is the thematic finish and it's mostly for the writer. It completes what the writer has to say about something that matters. I don't mean it preaches but that it shows (not tells ) how things have changed as a result of the action plot. How have the characters and/or the world changed?

dclary · May 6, 2009

Some authors are notoriously bad at the second ending.

For instance, Dan Brown, who literally ends DaVinci Code with a paragraph that goes something like this:

"Suddenly he realized where Mary Magdalen was buried.

The end."

Kaylee · May 6, 2009

Have them order a pizza and discuss what happened.

Maiden · May 6, 2009

Oh I understand and appreciate you sharing your experience with me.

My story only has one thing that is left somewhat unresolved but not so much so that it is obvious. I am certainly not cocky enough to think I wrote a "sure thing" so I can freely play around with readers with promises of things to come.

But that does remind me to not get too weird with the ending. As I said I am goign to end it how I began. The book starts in a dream and I am goign to end it with one. I just have to remember not to go overboard with it.

Little Bird · May 6, 2009

Maiden said:
As I said I am goign to end it how I began. The book starts in a dream and I am goign to end it with one. I just have to remember not to go overboard with it.

Sounds great! I like the "full circle" approach. I've done something similar with my new ending.

wrinkles · May 7, 2009

The two ~~hobbits~~ people, having grown large and obtained super warrior powers while completing their ~~quest~~ mission, go back to the ~~Shire~~ their hometown and kick the butts of ~~Sauron’s minions~~ mafia hit men who have taken over in their absence. A great ending that will sadly be left out of the movie version.

Ken Schneider · May 8, 2009

Maiden said:
I am having a problem right now and thought I would put it out to the universe and see what comes back. First let me explain my problem. I am past the major plot climax in the story. My MC and supporting cast are now home but when I try to write what happens next I draw a blank. I have tried just having them do something and go with the flow but I go numb before I can even get to the period. I even tried outlining but I am having the same problem there.

So I gave up at this point and decided I would go and do some editing and add more character development, etc. leaving the wrap up for later.

Any advice, suggestions, or personal accounts would be great.

If your characters are standing there scratching their heads, give them head lice.

If your feel the story is not finished, put them back into trouble/peril a problem they have to deal with. Your story will bloom again.
Good luck.

vrabinec · May 8, 2009

Ken Schneider said:
If your characters are standing there scratching their heads, give them head lice.

If your feel the story is not finished, put them back into trouble/peril a problem they have to deal with. Your story will bloom again.
Good luck.

I was thinking to give them the crabs, have them scratch their balls, and try to figure out who got it first.

mekolo_diesne · May 9, 2009

When this happens to me, I sometimes have it end slightly after they walk away from the battlefield and introduce a new or barely existing person (or thing, in many cases) and give only a brief description, such as two eyes following them until they were out of sight and have them come out of the shadows to maybe feast or mourn over the dead bodies. Just my way of doing it. I like mysterious beings to be introduced long before they actually do anything besides watch and wait.

But that could just be me... and a few select friends...

when characters stand there scratching their heads

Maiden

Willowmound

Lightly salted

Maiden

ChristineR

What happened?

Maiden

Ctairo

Why Isn't IGNORE Available in RL?

ChaosTitan

Around

Senora Verde

Teacher by day, YA writer by night

Maiden

Sirion

practical experience, FTW

Dark Window

ChristineR

What happened?

Maiden

Manix

Mutatis mutandis

Maiden

dawinsor

Dorothy A. Winsor

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

Kaylee

New kid, be gentle!

Maiden

Little Bird

wrinkles

Ken Schneider

Absolute sagebrush

vrabinec

Dipwad

mekolo_diesne

I see you hiding over there.